Parachute toy



C. W. PAYNE PARACHUTE TOY Sept. 20, 1955 Filed Aug. 27, 1953 EIEI J Ila-3.-

United States Patent PARACHUTE TOY Charles W. Payne, Napa, Calif. Application August 27, 1953, Serial No. 376,793

1 Claim. (Cl. 46-86) This invention relates to a toy or similar article and particularly relates to a toy which may be projected into the air and which will descend by means of a parachute.

Many toys have been suggested in the past which can be shot into the air and which will descend by means of a parachute attached thereto. However, in the past, such devices have not proved very satisfactory since the means for releasing a parachute when the device is at the top of its ascent are frequently complicated and/or do not operate in a satisfactory manner.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to make a simple, inexpensive toy of the projectile type which will release a parachute at the top of its ascent and which is of rugged construction and positive in its action.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a drawing, partly in section, showing one embodiment of the present invention wherein the toy is made in the form of a rocket ship, with the parts shown in the relationship assumed when the nose is upward.

Figure 2 is a partial view of the device of Figure 1 showing the position the parts assume when the nose is down.

Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherein the toy is in the form of a paratrooper who descends by means of a parachute.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, I have shown in Figures 1 and 2 a simulated rocket ship generally designated 4. The ship is provided with an opening or hatch portion 5 which is mounted by means of hinges 6 to the body of the ship. Directly under the hatch is an ejection spring 7 which tends to push any object out of the hatch 5 when the hatch 5 is open. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, a parachute 9 is folded immediately above the springs 7 and within the hatch 5 which is connected by conventional shroud lines 11 to the body of the ship. The hatch 5 is kept in a normally closed position by means of a catch member 13 which is merely a small projection of metal suitable to receive a pin 15. The pin 15 is attached to the lever arm 17 which is loosely hinged at 19. The pivoted connection allows the lever arm to swing out of the way in the conventional manner, releasing the hatch, or to swing toward the hatch, inserting the pin 15 in the catch 13 to keep the hatch in closed position.

Mounted within the body of the ship is a rod 21 on which a weight 23 is adapted to slide. The weight 23 is connected to the arm 17 by means of a short flexible connection such as a piece of string 25. The lever 17 is prevented by the weight 23 from assuming a horizontal position, so that when the lever 17 is withdrawn from the catch 13, it will assume the position shown in Figure 2.

To operate the device, the body of the ship is tilted with the forward end down, which will cause the weight 23 to go toward the forward end of the ship and permit the hatch 5 to open as is shown in Figure 2. In this posiinside the ship and thehatch'5 closed. Thesliip is=then tilted to a position so that the tail is downward, whereupon the weight 23 will push the lever 17 to the position shown in Figure 1. The ship is then held in a nose-upward position and launched. As the ship reaches the top of its trajectory and starts downward, the weight 23 will shift to the nose of the ship, pulling on the string 25 and releasing the hatch 5. The springs 7 will then eject the parachute 9, whereupon the ship will descend slowly by means of the parachute.

In Figure 3 is illustrated another embodiment of this invention wherein the projectile is shaped to resemble a parachute jumper. It will be noted that the body is hinged at 27 to provide a hatch 29. The mechanism within the ship is entirely the same as that shown in Figure l. The paratrooper is launched feet first with the feet held in an upward position.

Any suitable launching device may be used. In Figure 1, a hook 31 is provided for a connection to the launching unit. In Figure 3, the feet 33 of the figure serve as a hook for the launching device. If desired, a launching device with a guide rail may be used, in which case one of the fins 35 of Figure 1, or the hands 37 or other suitable part of the paratrooper in Figure 3 acts as a runner in the guide rail. Various devices can be used to launch the device, the simplest of which is a rubber band. Thus, the rubber band may be held by one end in one hand and the other end of the rubber band hooked over parts 31 or 33 and the body of the toy pulled backward and released in the normal manner. Spring operated devices of various sorts may be used in launching the toy.

It should be particularly noted that there is a flexible connection 25 between the weight 23 and the lever arm 17. This allows the weight to move a considerable distance in either direction before it is called upon to do any work in actuating the lever 17. Thus, when the device is locked and the toy reaches the top of the trajectory and the weight moves toward the front of the ship, the weight does not immediately pull upon the lever 17 but is allowed to move forward for an appreciable distance, and thus gain momentum before the connection 25 is pulled taut and the lever 17 is actuated. Similarly, when the weight moves to the rear, it does not immediately contact the lever 17, but again is allowed to gain momentum before the lever 17 is actuated. By thus taking advantage of the momentum of the weight, a much smaller weight can be used than if the weight were directly attached to the lever arm and the operation of the device is rendered more positive.

Although in both of the embodiments illustrated a parachute is released at the top of the trajectory, it is apparent that the same principle can be used to release other objects such as a simulated figure of a man. Similarly, the outline of the toy can take various shapes other than those illustrated.

I claim:

A toy projectile of the character described comprising an elongated body portion and a hatch opening from said body portion hinges connecting said hatch and said body portion, an actuating mechanism located in the forepart of the projectile comprising in combination a U-shaped lever having a first and a second arm, a pivot connection on the central portion of the U, the first arm of the U constituting a catch which operates to hold the hatch closed when in a first position and which permits the hatch to open in a second position, a rail within said toy lying generally parallel to the longer dimension of the toy, a weight slidably mounted on said rail, a flexible conchute out of said body and tending to urge the opening of the hatch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilde Nov. 18, 1913 Williams Jan. 17, 1933 Hippen Aug. 19, 1941 Frazier June 15, 1943 Coleman Apr. 20, 1954 

